Back to School Supply Shopping – Part 3

Whooo hooo – I am officially done with my back to school shopping. Although I reserve the right to pick up a few more amazing deals here and there, I have everything on all 5 lists Ta-da! And the final damage? After sales, deals, coupons and rebates, I will have only spent $9.64 (including sales tax) for everything on my lists and lots of extras… check it out!

Just to recap, here’s a link to Part 1 with my lists and Part 2.

Staples – 7/25 – 7/31 – Be sure to print out a $10 off $50 Office Depot coupon before you go. (Note, there is no national policy on competitor coupons, so it is up to your store if they will take them or not. Mine takes them without hesitation, good luck!)

• (1) Backpack with bonus insulated lunch box and 2 zipper cases $29.99 with 100% mail-in rebate for a Staples gift card = FREE! (This is to be donated for a back to school drive.)
• (2) Reams of copy paper $4.99 with an easy rebate = $0.01 each
• (1) Pack of 5 black retractable gel pens by Zebra $4.99 (BTW – check out my  for a Zebra pens & pencils giveaway) with easy rebate = $0.25
• (2) Packs of 8 Bic pens $0.01 each
• (1) 2-pack of blunt safety scissors $1.99
• (1) Scotch packing tape $2 – $1 coupon in flyer = $1
• (1) Zipper pencil case $2.99
• - $10 off $50
• Tax $2.87
• Total $43.83
• Easy rebates =$14.70
• Staples GC rebate = $29.99

Oh yes, that leaves me $0.86 in the POSITIVE!!!!

Walmart – 7/25 – 7/31

• (2) 2-pack of glue sticks $0.25 each
• (2) 24 ct colored pencils $0.75 each
• (1) Elmer’s Glue $0.25
• (1) 1″ Clear view binder $1.78
• (4) Composition books $0.25 each
• (4) Blunt scissors $0.74 each
• Tax $0.56
• Total $8.55

Target – 7/25 – 7/31 – Note, nothing amazing here, but I did round out the last of the items on my list that I needed.

• (1) 24 ct pencils $0.94
• (1) zipper pencil case $0.69
• Tax $0.18
• - $0.05 for using my own bag
• Total $2.70

To recap… That brings my supplies total to

• - $5.75 (Staples week 1) after rebates
• $.14 (CVS week 1) after ECB
• - $5.47 (Office Depot week 2) after rebates
• $2.14 (Kmart total week 2)
• $4.97 (Walgreens total week 2) after RR
• $4.27 for (3) Washable markers @ TRU (last week)
• $2.15 for (1) Gallon Ziploc bag @ Walgreens (last week)
• -$0.86 (Staples week 3) after rebates
• $8.55 Walmart
• $2.70 Target
• That brings me to a GRAND total of  $12.84 for 5 school supply lists! Not too shabby!

Additionally, I will be returning the $2.99 pencil case from Staples since I found one at Target for $0.69 (with tax, thats $3.20). Once I return that my total will be $9.64 (including tax). Seriously, look at this picture. I got EVERYTHING on the table for $9.64!!!

Please note – all school supplies are to be donated to a school supply drive. My two-year-old daughter starts pre-school in the fall, but we don’t have a supply list. So that is $9.64 to donate all of these supplies!

Back to School Supply Shopping – Part 2

I posted some of the big round ups this morning, but I just got back from my shopping trip and wanted to update you with my shopping list. For a complete list of supplies I am buying for our back-to-school drive click here. In addition to my main list, I have also added a few additional items to my list to help a friend. So, here is how I made out today!

Office Depot – 7/18 – 7/24 – Be sure to print out a $10 off $25 coupon for Office Depot before you go.  Plus don’t forget to enter your code from your receipt for your chance to win one of 50 $100 gift cards every day. (I didn’t win, but maybe you will!)

• (5) Purell Hand sanitizer – $4.99 with Mail in Rebate of $4.99 (limit 5) FREE
• (3) Wide-rule note paper – $.25 e
• (2) College-rule note paper – $.25 e (limit 5 note paper packs)
• (2) Disney Color Wonder packs on clearance for $1 e (no, these weren’t on my list but my daughter loves them!)
• - $10 off $25 coupon
• Tax $1.28
• Total $19.48 for all
• Rebate total = $24.95

Look! Again, after rebates I will MAKE $5.47 (even with the extra items not on my list!)

Plus as an extra bonus, Office Depot donates 5% of your school supply total to your choice of local schools to purchase other supplies!

Kmart – 7/18 – 7/24 – I have to say I was a little disappointed with my Kmart stop b/c they had already sold out of a lot of the $.25 items. But I still got a few.

• (4) boxes of 24 Crayola crayons ($.25) – limit 4
• (3) plasic rulers ($.25) – limit 4
• (1) Elmer’s school glue sticks ($.25) – I bought the last one
• Tax $.14
• Total $2.14 for all
• BONUS – a coupon for a free 20 oz Coke ($1.39) printed with my receipt!

Walgreens – 7/18 – 7/24

• (5) Wide-rule spiral notebooks ($.29)
• (2) College-rule spiral notebooks ($.29)
• (1) 5×8 school box ($.49)
• (2) 15 ct pack of cap erasers ($.39)
• (2) 5 pack Bic highlighters ($.49)
• (1) pencil sharpener ($1.29 – $.70 coupon from weekly flyer)
• (1) 2 pack red Pilot G2 Pens ($1.19 – $1 coupon from monthly flyer)
• Colgate toothpaste  ($3.49 – $.75 coupon + $3.50 register rewards, so free + $.75!)
• Tax $.67
• Total $8.47  for all (with a $3.50 coupon to use on next trip)

To recap… That brings my supplies total to

• - $5.75 (Staples week 1) after rebates
• $.14 (CVS week 1) after ECB
• - $5.47 (Office Depot week 2) after rebates
• $2.14 (Kmart total week 2)
• $4.97 (Walgreens total week 2) after RR
• I am still in the positive by $3.97 – WOW!

Back to School Supply Shopping – Part 1

Every year our moms’ club puts on a back to school drive to purchase supplies for kids in our area whose families can’t afford to send the kids back to school with new supplies. This year, we teamed up with a local organization that gave us supply lists to hopefully put together supply kits for 100 kids. The kits were priced out, full price, at Target to cost approx $11 per kid. Of course, I know I can beat that price! LOL So, I am going share my school supply deals to help you buy supplies. Whether you are buying supplies for your own kids or you are moved to buy for those who cannot afford supplies, if you follow me we will maximize your supplies for your dollars.

Here’s my list that I will work from:

Grades:K-4th – 60 packs needed

• 1 Glue stick
• 1 blunt tip scissors
• 1 box of crayons
• 5 pencils
• 1 plastic 5″x8″ pencil box
• 4 colored pencils
• 1 spiral notebook (wide ruled)
• 1 pkg. wide ruled notebook paper
• 2 highlighters
• 1 black and white composition notebook
• 1 (3) prong pocket folder

Grades: 5th-9th – 35 packs needed

• 10 pencils
• 4 black pens
• 1 red pen
• 3 highlighters
• 1 zipper pencil bag
• 1 12in. plastic ruler
• 2 pkg. college rule notebook paper
• 1 black and white composition notebook
• 4 colored pencils
• 2 spiral notebooks (college ruled)
• 2 inexpensive plastic binders
• 3 (3) prong pocket folders

Let’s shop!

CVS – Sun, Mon & Tues only. Extra Care Bucks are a store coupon you can use on anything in the store on your next purchase.  (Yes, you have to pay sales tax, but no biggie.)

• $.99 for a 10 pack of Papermate pens (black or blue) get back $.99 ECBs, so the pens are virtually FREE. (limit 1)
• $.99 for a  pair of 5″ blunt tip sicissors get back $.99 Extra Care Bucks, so the scissors are virtually FREE. (limit 1)

So basically, 10 pens and 1 scissors for free!

Staples – Sun- Wed. I had to break this down into 2 purchases to use both coupons, but it wasn’t an issue. Note – you MUST have a Staples Rewards card for the rebates below, but it is free to sign up.

Purchase 1

• $.01 for 8 pencils (x2)
• $1 for 4 glue sticks (x2)
• $1.50 for Staples Durable Binder (black or blue) (x2)
• $4.99 for 1 ream of Staples paper (for our house)
• $14.99 for 1 pack of Staples photo paper (for our house)
• TOTAL – $25
• Printable Coupon $10 off $25 (this is an Office Depot coupon, but Staples accepts these without problem)
• Plus Tax $1.05 for our area
• Paid $16.05 for all
• REBATES – Easy Rebate $13.99 for photo paper & Easy Rebate $4.98 for paper = $18.97 in rebates

Did you catch that, I paid $16.05 for everything and i am getting back $18.97 in rebates. Hello, Staples is paying me $2.92 to take everything

Purchase 2

• $.01 for pocket folders (x10)
• $1 for 12 pack colored pencils
• $1 for 5×8 pencil box (x3)
• $1 for 6 highlighters
• $4.99 for 1 ream of Staples paper (for our house)
• $14.99 for 1 pack of Staples photo paper (for our house)
• TOTAL – $25.08
• Printable Coupon $10 off $25 (this is an Office Depot coupon, but Staples accepts these without problem)
• Plus Tax $1.06 for our area
• Paid $16.14 for all
• REBATES – Easy Rebate $13.99 for photo paper & Easy Rebate $4.98 for paper = $18.97 in rebates

Did you catch that, I paid $16.14 for everything and i am getting back $18.97 in rebates. Hello, Staples is paying me $2.83 to take everything

Yep, I received $5.75 for all the supplies list and pictured below! Now, how’s that for a deal! Guess what I am going to do with my $5.75, I’m gonna buy more school supplies on the list that won’t be so cheap!